"Considering that Republicans have been in power in Staten
Island for the last 20 years, it's only 5,000 votes," Democratic chairman John
Gulino said. "And when we build this party, things are going to change."

Joe Lhota edged out de Blasio on Staten Island 37,698 votes
to 31,375 - or 53 to 44 percent. According to election district breakdowns, de
Blasio won the North Shore - in some case by wide margins. In Election District
61 of Assembly District 61, located in the Park Hill section of Clifton, Lhota
got just one vote to de Blasio's 259.

But big margins on the North Shore weren't enough to
overcome widespread wins by Lhota across the mid-Island and South Shore - in
Assembly District 62's Election District 35, in Annadale, Lhota won 263 votes
to de Blasio's 56.

"I think we did everything in our power, and I think the South
Shore of Staten Island, we have to continue to make inroads there," Gulino
said. "If you look at the votes district-by-district, that's where we were
deficient -- not deficient, but where we have to build."

Both de Blasio and Lhota had pledged to win the borough, but Lhota was one who came out on top. Almost every election district in the South Shore went for
Lhota - with isolated exceptions like two developments in Arden Heights that
swung in de Blasio's direction.

"Staten Island has always been a special borough for me and
it means a great deal to receive the support of people all across the island,"
Lhota told the Advance Wednesday. "Whether it was closing Fresh Kills or
eliminating the fee on the ferry, I was proud to help improve the quality of
life for Staten Islanders. This is a unique borough with many different needs
and its clear people responded to my vision and what I wanted to accomplish."

GOP county Chair John Antoniello was quick to praise Lhota for
recognizing after he lost the borough in the primary that he had a lot of
groundwork to do for the general - and for getting it done.

"I think he got his point out to the people as far as the
differences between him and his opponent," GOP Chair John Antoniello said.

But that doesn't mean Antoniello - and the borough's Republican
elected officials - weren't ready to work with a Mayor De Blasio.

Borough President-elect James Oddo said he does not think
that the fact that de Blasio lost Staten Island will have an effect on the
mayor-elect's dealings with the borough.

"You run to be mayor of five boroughs," he said. "The days
of completely writing off Staten Island are over. I know there is some
trepidation among Staten Islanders. But Bill is going to surprise a lot of
folks. He's from Brooklyn. He has a lot more in common with Staten Islanders
than folks from other boroughs. Let's give him a chance."

State Sen. Diane Savino, a Democrat, said it was interesting
Lhota fared poorly in Staten Island during the primary but well during the
general - but pointed out very few people vote in primaries.

"Also, I think (Lhota) spent much more time out here because
he was determined, he made it his mission: He was going to win Staten Island,"
Ms. Savino said.

"I think everybody likes to play the post-mortems after Election
Day," she said. "You can always spend more time, but then you've got to take it
away from somewhere... You have limited hours in the day, you have limited
dollars, and you've got to maximize them to the best of your ability."

She recalled seeing an article in a Bronx newspaper on
Columbus Day, lamenting that Lhota had been absent from that borough - it ran right
around the time the Advance asked when de Blasio would get around to visiting
Staten Island, she said.

"I'm less interested in where he spends his afternoons than
in whether or not he's willing to pay attention and give Staten Island the
attention it deserves," he said.

Gulino said he was certain de Blasio would give it that
attention.

"Staten Island, under Bill de Blasio, will no longer be the
forgotten borough," he said.